Massive Fire Tears Through North Lauderdale Rental Building, Forcing Multiple Evacuations
NORTH LAUDERDALE – A rental building in North Lauderdale erupted in flames early Tuesday morning, forcing nearly a dozen residents to evacuate their homes.
The fire, which started at around 1:30 a.m., engulfed the building on SW 10th Street, located just east of North Lauderdale Avenue. Gillian White, one of the residents, recounted the moment she discovered the fire.
“What’s happening? I said what’s happening? And then I just see the smoke. I switched the light on and I saw the smoke so I just opened the door. To try to get the fresh air and then I see the fire,” said White.
With only the clothes on her back, work clothes in her arms, and a backpack, White immediately ran to alert her neighbors.
“There were flames popping out, glass breaking, the windows breaking. I just ran out the back and knocked on the door and I said everybody there’s a fire and we should get out, we should just get out,” said White.
All nine residents were able to evacuate the building unharmed. Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it is evident that some units sustained more damage than others. Firefighters revealed that the apartments share an attic which facilitated the fire’s spread.
“It’s basically a total loss and it happens frequently, the smoke and the water damage, it travels into the other units. This is like a six-plex. So a lot of the other units, they all definitely have smoke damage and most of them have water damage,” said Elias Mena with the Rapid Recovery Team.
Desmond Reilly, one of the affected residents, expressed concern about what will happen to his home. “I’m a little nervous and uncertain. Am I going to be able to go back in my home? What’s going to happen?” he said.
The Red Cross has extended assistance to those in need of temporary accommodations.
Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the injured victim following this apartment fire in North Lauderdale
The Perazzo Law Firm is dedicated to serving individuals and families who have suffered injury due to the negligence of others. With a deep understanding of the emotional toll accidents can take, our firm is committed to helping those in need.
Our news blog is designed to keep you informed on the latest personal injury cases and legal developments. We aim to raise awareness of the injury and loss of life that occurs in our community by sharing information from publicly available sources. However, please note that the information shared in our blog has not been independently verified, and the photos depicted are not necessarily representative of the actual event. If you notice any inaccuracies, please bring them to our attention for correction.
